Offering up his smooth and sultry vocals for Baltimore’s youth, Will Downing is to be the entertainment centerpiece Aug. 11 for the second annual Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy (BDJ) “Head of the Table” fundraising event.
The event will be held at the Walbrook Campus and will give Baltimoreans an opportunity to enjoy the full Will Downing experience while also helping to defray the costs of training the academy’s students who attend classes six days a week.
“Every dollar from every ticket sale goes toward the bottom line of the school’s expenses,” said Germaine Bolds-Leftridge, organizer of the event and chair of the Leftridge Family Foundation board. “The Baltimore community loves Will so it was really a no-brainer.”
Bolds-Leftrigde says the idea for the fundraiser came while she was in an emergency room with a nervous disorder and found herself “judging” a young man whose britches were sagging below his waist.
“God convicted me and said, ‘How dare you judge him? You don’t know who’s at the head of his table,’” said Bolds-Leftridge.
Even though she describes herself as a staunch feminist, Bolds-Leftridge said the incident underscores the idea that because “men are the head of the household” young men should be made ready to step into a family leadership role
With a score of albums under his belt, Downing is expected to make the ladies in the audience swoon and the men envious of a veteran crooner at work.
Two decades of the success behind him, passion about good music is one thing Downing simply cannot hide.
“This is still exciting to me,” said Downing in a phone interview with the AFRO.
“I’m looking forward to the event and seeing some folks that have always loved the music and want to have a good time.”
Last year’s entertainer, Chante Moore will also be on hand, too. A VIP pre-reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the show will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. VIP guests will also be able to get into the after-party event which will take place from 9:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Tickets for the fundraiser are selling quickly but currently still available here.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/will-downing-mn0000960874
http://www.willdowning.com/start/
